Automobile servicing lift



Aug. 2, 1932n P. J. LUN'ATI AUTOMOBILE SERVICING LIFT Filed Aug. 16. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug., 2, 1932. P. J. LUNATI AUTOMOBILE SERVICING LIFT Filed Aug. 16, 1926 .Patented Aug. 2, 1932 iJNirsD STATES PATENif; ori-ice PETER J. LUNATI, OFYMEMPHIS, TENNESSEE A AUTOMOBILE snnvlome LIFT Application led August 16, '1926. Serial No. 129,529.

mally are arranged in proximity to the ground to permit a vehicle to be driven thereon. The interior of the plunger communicates at its lower end with the interior of the cylinder and means is provided for introducing fluid pressure into the interiorl of the plunger to effect the elevation thereof. In the prior constructions referred to the upper end of the plunger reciprocates in a bearing carried by the cylinder and provided with suitable packing to prevent the escape of fluid pressure. A relatively small cap is provided at the lower end of the plunger which hasv a relatively small bearing surface contacting with the interior wall of the cylinder kto maintain the plunger in proper alinement. In the prior constructions, the vehicle supportingrails were secured to the plunger by mount-ing them upon supporting' arms arranged in a shallow pit in the ground to permit the vehicle rails to be brought downwardly into contact with the ground. It has been found that the surrounding ground vor suitable concrete platform usually is not perfectly level, and accordingly one portion of the rails contacts with the ground before other parts, and accordingly there is a tendency for the weight of the vehicle. parti cul'arly when not properly centered over the plunger, to cause the plunger to swing out of alinement thus greatly increasing the frictionbetween the lower piston can and the interior of the cylinder and tending to unevenly wear the bearing at the upper end of the cylinder. In the prior constructions there also was a'tendency for the iuid pressure to leak past the packing provided at the upper end of the cylinder.

Anv important object of the present invention is to provide a hydraulic lift of the type disclosed in my patent and' copending applications above referred to wherein the construction is rendered cheaper to manufacture and at the same time more efficient in tion.

opera- A further object is to provide a structure w wherein friction is materially reduced under all conditions, and particularly when the vehicle is not accurately centered over the plunger.

A further object is to provide a hydraulic 65 lift construction wherein damage to the upper cylinder bearing is eliminated when the device is employed upon uneven surfaces.

A further object is to provide a device of the above mentioned character provided with means having a uid seal between the interior of the cylinder and the cylinder packing when the plunger is in its extreme upper position, thus relieving the packing from pressure and eliminating leakage therethrough.

A further object is to provide an improved form of vehicle supporting means whereby the shallow pit previously provided forthe rail supporting arms is eliminated.

A further object is to provide an im proved hydraulic lift construction wherein the upper portion of the cylinder may be removed to permit removal of the plunger without the' necessity of removing the cylinder from its concrete base.

Other obiects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.'

In the drawings I have shown one embodiment of the invention. In this showing,

Figure 1 is a central vertical longitudinal sectional view showing the device in lowered position, Figure 2 is a plan view,

Figure 3 is a section 'on line 3-3 of Fig- 9T ure 2, and.

der and associated elements. Referring to the drawings the num eral 10 10 designates a suitable cylinder preferably formed of steel pipe or the like enclosed by a lower head 11 preferably secured in 1- tion by welding. The cylinder is embe ded l in a well or base of concrete 12, and the surface of the ground also is preferably concreted as at13. The cylinder is provided at its upper Iend with an outstanding flange 14 for a purpose tov be described.

A bearing 15 is arranged oter the upper end of the cylinder and forms in effect a part thereof. The bearing 15 is provided at its lower end with an outstanding flange 16 which is bolted or otherwise secured as at u 17 to the flange 14. Packing 18 is arran ed in the upper end of the bearing 15 an a packing g and 19 is bolted to the bearin 15 as at 20 whereby the packing ispresse in the usual manner. 50 The plunger 21 is mounted to reciprocate within the cylinder as shown in Figure A1 the plunger preferably being formed o steel piping and olished on its outer surface whereby it is a apted to slide within the bearing 15. The lower end `of the plunger 21 is provided with 'a sleeve 22 preferably welded thereto and extending a substantial distance downwardly therefrom. The .plunger is provided with a lower head 23 preferably welded to the sleeve 22 and provided with a relatively large central openin 24 for a,purpose to be described. A

thlmble 25 is mounted in the opening 24 asshown in Figure 4. This thimble 1s rovided with a c lindrical portion 26 w ich extends throug the opening 24, and the cylindrical portion is provided with a preferably integral lower horizontal ilange 27. An upper flange 28 is secured to the cylindrical portion 26 and is provided with a series of openings 29 arranged inwardly of the opening 24, as shown in Figure 4. The

plunger is closed -at itsnpper end by a head- 30 as shown in Figure 1.-

The'cylinder and plunger are adapted to contain a body of oil substantially to the levelindicated by thedotted line 31 in Fig-- ure 1, when the plunger is in itslower posi.- tion. Meansare provided for introducing fluid pressure into the interior of the plunger above the level of the oil therein.

` shown, a vertical pipe 32 is arrangedcentrally within the plunger and cylinder and has its upper end projecting a'slight distance the pipe Vis threaded into the cylinder head 11 as at 33 whereby the pipe is carried by the crete well `12. The pipe 36 communicates at 55 its upper end with a horizontal pipe 37 ar-A above the level of the oil. The lower end of.

ranged beneath the surface of the ground. A vertical pipe 38 is connected at its lower end to the p1 37 and is provided at its upper end wit a Tjoint 39. This joint connects' at one side to an exhaust valve 40 and at its opposite side the joint is' connected to an inlet valve 41, both of the valves beinv' manually controlled as will be apparent. supply pipe 42 is connected at one end to the valve 41 and at its opposite end with a suitablesource of fluid pressure supply such as a compressed air tank.

A collar 43 surrounds the plunger adj."A `ent its u er end and is secured thereto ii.' any suita e manner. This collar is provided with outstanding portions 44 having vertical webs 45 formed at their outer ends. A pair of su porting arms 46 are arranged as shown in igure 2 of the drawings. These arms may be formed of channel irons, I-beams .or the like and are provided with central parallel Bort-ions 47 bolted to the webs 45 as at 48. utwardly of the parallel portions 47, the arms are provided with diver ng portions 49 which are arranged substantially radially of the plunger as clearly shown in Figure 2. The arms 46 terminate at their outer ends in parallel portions 50 which are secured by rivets or'the like 51 to vehicle supporting rails 52. It will be apparent that these rails may be made in any suitable shape,

and in the present instance theyare illustrated as angle irons having vertical portions 53 through which lthe rivets 51 pass, and horizontal portions 54 which normally contact with the surface of the concrete 13 and are adapted to directly support the vehicle. The outer ends of the vertical portions of the rails may be turned outwardly as at 55 to prevent the ends of the vertical portions from contacting with the tires of motor vehicles driven upon the rails. In order to positively prevent the outer ends of the arms 46 from sagging under the weight of a vehicle, a steel plate 56 is arranged over the upper end of the plunger and is riveted or otherwise secnflezd to the parallel portions of the arms as a The oil may be inserted in the plunger and cylinder through an opening normally closed by a plug 58. The oil is adapted to be used for lubricating purposes such as lubricating the sprlngs and other parts of the vehicle in position on the rails when the device is in elevated position. For this purpose I provide a plpe 59 extending downwardly into the plunger a substantial distance and-secure at-its upper end to the head 30. The oil is adapted to How into the lower end of the pipe and the ilow of il through the pipe is controlled by a manually operable valve 60. A hose 61 is connected to the valve 60 and is provided, with a control valve 62 at its outerend. A spray nozzle or the like 63 is secured to the valve 62.

lil

It will be noted that the sleeve 22 is relatively long, and the sleeve is of course polvlower end 65 of the bearing 15 when the plunger is in elevated position. The lower end 65 of the bearing 15 is also machined and polished, and when the lower face of the bearing contacts with the upper end of the sleeve 22 these'felements act in effect as a valve for a purpose to be described.

The operation of the device is as follows:

As previously stated, the rails are adapted to rest upon the surface of the ground or surrounding concrete and a vehicle may be driven thereon when in such position. It is very difficult to provide a concrete surface which is perfectly smooth, and hence one or more ends of the rails may not perfectly seat upon the surrounding surface. When a vehicle is driven upon the rails, there is a tendency therefore for the portions of the rails which do not seat tightly upon the surrounding surface'to sag downwardly thus transmitting this sagging movement to the plunger. The elongated bearing surface oi the sleeve 22 prevents any distortion of the plunger, thus serving to maintain it in properly centered position within the cylinder and eliminating any tendency of the bearing 15 to wear unevenly. It also will be noted that the arms 46 are secured against the inner por tions of the rails, and consequently the surrounding surface of concrete is relatively fiat throughout and no pit 'is necessary to receive the supporting arms or other portions of the apparatus when the plunger is in lower position. When it is desired to elevate the clevice, the valve 40 is closed and the valve 41 is opened thus pe'rmittingiiuid pressure to flow through the several piping connections to the interior of the plunger above the level of the oil therein. The fluid pressure elevates the plunger, as will be obvious, and as the plunger is elevated, the oil Hows through the space within the cylindrical portion 26 of the thimble 25, and through the openings 29 and the space between the cylindrical portion 26 andv the opening 24. These oil passages permit the oil to flow downwardly Afreely and substantially unrestricted, whereby the device may be readily elevated witha minimum pressure. Vifhile the device is in elevated position, any desired work may be performed. beneath the vehicle, as will kbe apparent. The springs and other parts of the vehicle may be oiled by opening the valve 60, and the operator may directly control the spraying of the oil through nozzle 63 by manually controlling the valve 62. It will be apparent that the delivery of oil to the nozzle 63 is dependent upon the presence of fluid presvlower end of the bearing 15. surfaces of these elements are pollshed, as

sure within the cylinder and plunger, and accordingly if the valves 60 and 62 are opened by unauthorized persons when the plunger is in lowered position, no oil will be delivered from the nozzle 63. When it is desired to lower the device, the valve 41 is closed and the valve 40 opened, thus permitting air to escape from the interior of the plunger. Then this action takes place, it will be apparent that there is greater pressure beneath the plunger head 23 than in the interior of the plunger and consequently the thimble 25 will be elevated and the fiange 27 will eontact with the head 23. This action prevents oil from flowing upwardly through the openings 29, the oil merely flowing through the restricted space provided between the pipe 32 and the cylindrical portion of the thimble. Thus the plunger will'be lowered slowly, and s ince the same diiferential pressure will exist within the cylinder and plunger if the valve 4() is inadvertently opened, or if the pipe lin'e breaks, it will be apparent that the dash pot action of the thimblc`25allows ample time for an operator to shift his position when the plunger starts downwardly.

YVhen Huid pressure is admitted to the interior of the plunger, movement of the plunger upwardly will continue, until the upper end of the sleeve 22 contacts with the The contacting previously7 stated, and act in effect as a valve to prevent the passage of oil upwardly intov the bearing 15. Thus it will be apparent that the packing 18 is 'subjected to pressure only while the device is being elevated. and is relieved from pressure as soon as the plunger reaches its uppermost position.

The structure disclosed permits the plunger to be Withdrawn 'from the cylinder for the purpose of making repairs, without removing the entire cylinder -from the concrete Well. In order to remove ,the plunger, the upper plunger head, supporting arms and rails are detached from the plunger and the bolts 20 are removed, thus permitting the removal 'of the gland 19. Sutlicient concrete is then removed to provide access to the bolts 17, whereupon the bearing 15 may be lifted upwardly and removed from the plunger. Since the inside diameter of the cylinder is I constant throughout-its length, it will be apto be taken as a preferred example of the.

same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement yof parts may be resort- 'ed to'without departing from the s i ri t of the'invention or the scope of the su Joined l claims.

' 1. An automobile servicing lift comprlsing an upright cylinder adapted to be embedded in the ground with its upper end substantially at ground level, a plunger slldably and rotatably fitting the cylinder and wlth lts up- I per endabove ground level when in lowered position, a pair of parallel vehicle support.

ing rails located. on opposite sides of the plunger, each rail having a horizontal v ehlcl'e engaging portion and a vertical portion, a

head member secured to the plunger at itsupper end, arms projecting horizontally out ward from the head and having their outer ends attached to the vertical portionsv of the rails, and means for effecting the elevation and lowering of the@ plunger.

2. An automobile servicing lift comprising an upright cylinder adapted to be embedded in the ground, aplun'ger fitting the cylinder for longitudinal and horizontal rotational movements and havingits upper end project` fao ing from the cylinder when in lowermost porsition, a pair 4of parallel vehicle supporting rails located on' opposite sides of the plunger. a head on the upper end of the plunger, arms projecting horizontally from the head and to which the rails are attached'substantially in the horizontal plane of the head and arms, and means for eecting elevationl and lowering o the plunger. l

3. n automobile servicing lift comprising an upright cfylinderadapted to be embedded in the ground with its upper end substantially at ground level, a plunger tting the cylinder for longitudinal and rotary movements and having its upper end projecting above the cylinder when the plunger is down, a pair of parallel vehicle supporting rails located on oppositesdes of the plunger, a support at-v tached tothe upper end of the plunger and joined to the rails .in' substantially the plane of the support attachment to the plunger, and f Ameans for effecting the elevation and lowering of the plunger.

4. An automobile servicing lift comprising I an upright cylinder adapted to be embedded in the ground, a plunger slidably and rotatably fitting the cylinder and in its lowermost position having its upper end exposed above ground level, a support secured to the exposed end of the plunger and extending hori -zontally outward therefrom, a pair of'vehicle supporting rails-located on opposite sides of theplunger and attached thereto bythe snpf l port in substantially the` horizontal plane l ss of the support, and means for effecting the elevation and lowering ofthe plunger.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature. I' PETER J. LUNATI. 

